Pack for parachutes



Jan. 22, 1935. s H KMGHT 1,988,872

PACK FOR PARACHUTES Filed Jan. 27, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 22, 1935. 5 -rr 1,988,872

PACK FOR PARAGHUTES Filed Jan. 27, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 22, 1935.

S. H. KNIGHT PACK FOR PARACHUTES Filed Jan. 2'7, 195].

4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jan. 22, 1985. s, KN HT 1,988,872

PACK FOR PARACHUTES Filed Jan. 2'7, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 anuonkar 15a mil/0.5 3 11839! Patented Jan. 22, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PACK FOR PARACHUTES Samuel H. Knight, Lancaster, Pa. Application January 27, 1931, Serial No. 511,513

11 Claims. (Cl. 24421) My parachute pack is a bag and cushion pack in its most complete form, although the bag portion may be used without the cushion or with a different form of cushion. The bag has a covering for the parachute canopy and its load ropes,

that covers the packed parachute canopy completely, leaving no open or imperfectly covered corners. This covering is completely removed when the pull cord acts, leaving the whole of the inside of the bottom of the bag, which is where the parachute canopy and load ropes contact with it, clear of obstruction around its edges. The removal of the bag covering, when the pull cord has released the catches holding the covering of the bag to its bottom, is automatically performed by elastics so that, immediately the aviator pulls the cord and releases the fastenings holding the canopy covering portions of the bag, this covering will fly back and be drawn by the elastics completely away from the side of the bottom against which the parachute canopy and the load ropes rest.

The bag has a stifiened bottom portion, preferably made of laminated wood, covered by a textile material that forms a pocket for it and the retaining elements that hold the bag closed are mounted upon it, and the load straps that connect the load cords to the aviators harness are retained and positioned so that they do not produce; by. their entrance into the bag an opening in the covering of the bag, as they had a tendency to do in many packs made hitherto.

A striking feature of the device is the entire lack of projecting flaps and the absolutely closed corners of the pack.

The covering of the bag consists of a plurality of cover sheets provided with laps that pass over the edge of the bottom of the bag, and lie against its'outer side, bringing the main part of each cover sheet down in a substantially solid sheet to the edges of the bottom, on two sides of the latter. Both cover sheets are sewed to the same edge of the bottom of the bag and one cover sheet laps over the other so as to cover completely the parachute canopy, and are detachably secured to the bottom of the bag at the ends not sewed of this bottom. The cover sheets are preferably sewed to each other along part of the edges which are sewed to the bottom.

In addition to the features set forth above there are many novel features that will be described in the description of the best form of my device. In this description the universal convention that the top of a pack is the part that will be above while the parachute canopy being packed therein (the cushion lying beneath it) even though when the pack is placed on the seat, the bag lies bottom up with the cushion on top. The form and construction of the parachute canopy is not a part of nor a limitation on my in- 5 vention, and its construction therefore is not shown or described.

Fig. 1 is a plan view showing the upper side of the bag with the covering closed. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the pack looking down on the cushion. 10 Fig. 3 is a plan view of the bottom of the bag with the cushion removed. Fig. 4 is a sketch of the rip cord. Fig. 5 is a plan of the inside of the bottom of the bag. Fig. 6 is plan view of the stiffener for the bottom of the bag. Fig. '7 is a section on line 77 of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a plan of a cover sheet laid out flat. Fig. 9 is a section on line 9-9 of Fig. 1. Fig. 10 is an elevation of the cushion showing its attachment to the bag. Fig. 11 is a fragment showing a detail of a cover sheet. Fig. 12 shows the hook. Fig. 13 is a detail showing the corner fastening of a cover piece being a section on line 13--13 of Fig. 1.' Fig. 14 shows amodified construction of the laps, and their detachable fastenings to the bottom. Fig. 15 is a fragment of the laps.

The bag has the bottom 1, formed of a textile material enclosing a stiffener 4. To this bottom 1 are attached at one of its sides b the cover sheets 8, and 9. On the outside (side of the bottom opposite to that against which the parachute is packed) of the bottom 1, are placed the operative instrumentalities for releasing the cover sheets and the instrumentalities for holding the cover sheets in position after the parachute hasv been packed in the bag, and until it shall have been released, so that when the cover sheets 8 and 9 will leave the side of bottom of the bag toward them entirely free when their releasable fastenings are released by the pulling of the rip release cord. The cushion 3 is hinged by sewing to an edge of the bottom 1, and is removably secured to it by suitable disengageable fastenings.

The stiffener 4 is, in practice, a laminated board havingthe plates a, a, a, a, in the usualmanner, and efiectuates a very solid bottom for the bag.

This construction of the stiifener iis illustrated lapped over the sheet 9, a short distance along the edge 12. At the opposite edge e of the bottom 1 the two cover sheets lap, in practice, completely 9 the edge 1:. The edges f, f, cross the upper part and the enveloping fabric 171.

of the bag. The cover sheets 8 and 9 have each on their two sides other than those sewed to the bottom 1, the'laps 16 and 17, they are turned over the edges (1 and a of the bottom respectively. These laps lie, when the bag is packed, on the outside of the bottom 1, (see Figs. 9 and 3). The cover sheets 8 and 9 have also the laps 18 and 19 which I make, in practice, to extend the length of the edge e of the bottom 1, and when the bag is packed, lie superposed on each other adjacent to the edge e of the bottom 1. Turning to Fig. 9 the relative positions of these parts is seen clearly. The grommet 21 is secured to the bottom 1 of the pack. The cover sheet 9 is shown as superposed on sheet 8 and both are turned over the bottom 1 where they are shown as laps 18 and 19. The bottom is shown as composed of the stiffener 4 The folded over ends of the pieces 8 and 9 forming the laps l8 and 19 are shown superimposed on the lap 18. I have not. illustrated the grommets in this view as they are standard parts of the locking pin mechanism and their inclusion would merely add complication to the drawings. The locking cone is'made effective by the pin 43 to hold the laps 1'7, 18 and 19 in place, and the cone and pin are covered by the shield 26.

when these laps are fastened together and to the outside of the bottom 1 (the sides of the bottom opposite to that against which the parachute is packed), the cover formed by these two overlapping cover sheets 8, and 9, covers completely a canopy placed on the inside of the bottom 1 leaving the inside of the bottom of the bag entirely free and clear of anything on which the parachute canopy or load cords could stick or catch of the bag without any openings at the corners, and without requiring any attachments or additional parts to the cover sheets. These cover sheets have, in practice, the ends m, m, of the laps 16 and 1'! sewed to the ends 11, n, of the 'lap 19, (see Fig. 6) that is sewed to the bottom 1, to form the hinge. The pocket, 3, so formed fits over a corner r of the bottom and closes the cover over it. The closing of the other corners will be described in detail in connection with the rip cord instrumentalities. I

The elastic means for pulling the cover sheets 8 and 9 oi! from their position over the canopy are an assemblage of elastic retractors 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, which are attached at one end to the outside of the bottom 1, and pass over the edge c and have their other ends secured to the cover sheets in position to draw them back, preferably completely away from the inside of the bottom 1.

For this purpose I secure, in practice, the ends of the elastic retractors 10 and 11 to the corners t, t, of the sheet 8, and the retractors 13 and 14 to the comers of the sheet 9; the retractors 12 and 15,

which are shorter, being attached to the points near the middle of the sheets 8 and 9 respectively. ,1 position the ends of the-retractors so that the retractors drawing back the sheet that is lapped by the other will not pass over the latter, the harrowing of the sheets at their ends sewed to the ibottom 1, and the positioning of the attached ends of the retractors toward a corner of the bottom 1, being a preferred way of accomplishing this purpose. Among the details of construction I find advantageousare the attachment of the elastic cords of these retractors by hooks and eyes as illustrated. The preferred tom of hook and eye is shown in Fig. 12.

The cover sheets are held releasably in position when the bag is packed. The packing of the bag may be conveniently proceeded with as io1lows:After the load cords and parachute have been disposed on the inside of the bottom 1 of the bag, the cover sheets 8 and 9 are placed over them and, by stretching the laps 16 and 17 of the cover pieces 8 and 9 along outside of the bottom 1 of the bag, and then stretching the cover pieces over the canopy and load ropes until the laps 18 and 19 of the cover flaps 8 and 9 are positioned beyond the edge e of the bottom 1 of the bag, and then turning all these flaps over the edges of the bottom of the bag until they rest on the back. This will bring the flaps 18 and 19 over each other, and one end of these flaps and the free end of the flap 16 and the other end of these flaps and the-free end of the flap 17 over each other, and will position all of these flaps on the back of the bottom 1 of the bag so that they will be positioned so that I can attach readily' and releasably the ends of the laps to each other and to the bottom of the bag. I can vary this construction by omitting the lap 18 from the cover sheet that lies next to the side lap 1'1, and also by omitting attachment of the side laps to the bottom 01' the bag, but for security the first above described construction is the best.

I fasten these laps together and to the bottom 1 by locking two cones 21, one of which is shown in .Fig. 3, the shield 26 being folded back, the other being hidden by the shield that covers it. These shields may be made of strong canvas sewed to the one of the laps 1'7, 18 and 19 that overlaps the other laps at one end of the shield and at the other may be releasably secured to the lap. The cone also passes through grommets, one of which is shown in Fig. 3 and marked 23. These cones and grommets are placed so that the laps 16 and 1'1 are stretched between the pockets s and the grommets 22 and 23, and

the pulling over of the cover sheets will pack I the canopy tightly enough under the cover sheets and the ends of the cover sheets and the laps 18 and 19 will be properly drawn taut. The cover will then be held to the bag bottom 1 by four pockets, between which it is attached along the edges of the bottom and will have a central bulge between which and the inside of the bottom the canopy is packed. A shield 26 protects these look cones and pins.

The load straps 84, 84, that lead from the load ropes of the parachute canopy to the harness are carried under a flap, such as the flap 84, and are held in place by a retainer that prevents them from pulling out the lap. In practice, this is a strip that is detachably secured, as by snaps 86 to the outside of the bottom.

I have illustrated a method of stowing the load cords 30 in the bag by attaching them by frangible cords 31 to retainers 32, on the inside of the bottom 1. The cords are preferably arranged circularly as shown. I have illustrated the cords secured to the load straps 84 by the ordinary form of D ring 82.

The pull cord 40 is forked and has the branches 41 and 42 which have the pins 43, 43, that engage with locking cones 21 and hold the laps 16, 17, 19 and 18 in place. The pull cord has its protector or housing 44, that is suitably secured to the outside of the bottom of the bag by retainers, which in practice are straps or webbin'gs 45, which are sewed to the outside of the bottom 1, in practice, the stiffening board being provided with apertures 11 y to allow the stitches to reach both layers of the fabric of the bottom.

cushion in practice, for greater ease of snapping the cushion on, by giving the bell part a solid back support.

The cushion 3 has the completely enclosed hole 171, through which the harness leg straps can pass and hold the cushion to the aviator much more securely than where they pass through an aperture that is extended through to one edge of the cushion. As the cushion is readily disengaged from the bag and folded back on the hinge 70,

the straps are readily put in place and the cushion snapped back. The bag is packed by tying in the load cords and then putting the folded canopy on top of them. The cover sheets are then turned over the canopy and the grommets in the laps are placed ovr the locking cones 21, and the pins 43 inserted, thus holding the cover sheets firmly in place. The harness seat straps pass over the housing, and the lift webs have an ample space to lie. In packing the pilot parachute, if used, it can be placed at the end or side, and, in either position, will jump ofif instantly from the pack. The cushion is then turned and snapped into its position and the pack, which has a pancake effect, is inverted.

It rests on the seat with the cover sheets downwards and the cushion on top, which being firmly attached to the bag and covering all the operative parts protects them.

The hooks and eyes 31, 32, are constructed preferably so that hook 31 will not slip out of eye 32, unless tilted sidewise. The end 12 of the hook has a cross q formed by turning over the constituent wires, so that they lie at right angles with the rest of the hook, (see Fig. 12) and project sidewise, and would engage the wire of the eye 32, unless tilted or twisted.

Instead of inserting grommets in the laps 56 and 58, (see Fig. 8) rings 93, 93, may be sewed to the laps, replacing the grommets. I have shown these laps as slightly narrower than the corresponding laps in Fig. 3. I have also shown in that form the reinforces 126, 125, running diagonally from the corners of the cover sheet. The cover sheet 9 would be similar to the cover sheet 8.

In the side elevation of the device shown in Fig. 13, the side flap 59 of the cover sheet 9 is shown folded over the bottom piece 1 of the bag portion. The permanent pocket formed by sewing this lap to the lap 33, and the edges m, n, of the laps 56 and 30, will fit over one end of the bottom of the bag. Asthis bottom is rigid, through containing the board 4, this pocket will hold the cover pieces 8 and 9 in place when the releasable end is secured together by the locking cone mechanism. This locking cone mechanism may be used with lapping pieces 106, 108 and 109 out with diagonal ends 11. and w, to which rings 93 are secured, (see Fig. 14) which rings superimpose on each other around the locking cone 107. The cover 9'? for the locking cone shown in this form of my device may turn over on the bottom 1 (as indicated by the dotted line) diagonally.

Whether the locking means for the releasable pocket comprises grommets or rings, the corners of the laps of each cover pieces preferably. will lap over each other and be sewed together at the end of the cover, where the permanent pocket is, (see Figs. 3 and 15). At the other end of the cover piece where the releasable pocket is located, the end and side laps of one piece and the end lap of the other piece will be brought together and secured. Where grommets are used these laps will lap over each other. Where rings are used (see Fig. 14) the edges of the laps 108, 109, and 106 will be pulled together. In all cases the corner will .be completely enclosed by an an integral piece of fabric leaving no opening for the admission of moisture. The difference lengths of the branch cords 41 and 42 of the rip cord, prevents jamming in the housings.

A feature of my device which I desire to emphasize is that the cover portion of the bag forms a drawn in edge which laps over the bottom of the bag on all sides. Some of the sides of this cover may be sewed together permanently, others are releaiable from each other and are held together by fastenings that are let loose when the bag is opened to let out the parachute canopy. It is not essential'that this cover have any permanentattachment to the bottom of the bag. The seam described as connecting them to it may be omitted, although its existence has an advantage in holding the cover and bottom permanently to- I gether. Without it, the cover will be held on by the pocket formed by the connections between the edges, permanently or releasable.

The essentials of my invention are set forth in the more general description but some of these parts may be omitted with the omission of their functions. Many changes may be made in the more detailedly described portions of my device without departing from my invention.

I claim:-

1. A pack for parachutes comprising a bag having a plurality of cover sheets sewed at one end to the same side of a stiffened bottom of said bag, removable means for connecting the cover sheets at their opposite ends to the opposite side of the bottom, laps on said cover sheets, enclosing the edges of said bottom and releasable means connected to said removable means, in combination with a cushion hinged to the said bottom, and releasable fasteners holding the corners away from said hinge of the cushion, to the bottom of said bag.

2. In a pack for parachutes comprising a bag for containing the canopy of the parachute, having a bottom and cover sheets, the combination with the bag of a cushion fitting against the bottom of said bag and hinged thereto at one side and provided with detachable connections at the corners of said cushion between the same and the bottom of said bag and with a completely enclosed seat strap hole.

3. A pack for parachutes comprising a stiffener, a bag having a plurality of cover sheets turned over and sewed at one end to the same side of a stiffener, each of said cover sheets covering the canopy being at the line of their attachment to the stiffener of less width ,than the edge of the stiffener to which they are attached, laps attached to a side of saidcover sheets and each sewed at one end of the lap to the cover sheets where the latter are tumed over the stiffener, laps at the ends of said cover sheets, and releasable means for holding the laps together when the latter are folded over the stiffener and superimposed on each other.

, 4. The device as defined in claim 3 in combination with a cushion hinged to the stiffener and means for releasably securing it in position to cover said laps.

5; A pack for parachutes comprising a stiffener and a canopy covering consisting of a pair of covers fastened hingingly at one side to the bottom of the stiffener and having laps on two of the sides of the covering, said covers folded over onto the bottom of said stiffener and overlapping at their ends, the length ofeach edge of said pair of covers being, along the line of hinging to the stiffener less than the length of the edge of the stiffener to which they are hinged and releasable means positioned on the bottom of the stiffener towards the corners thereof and in engagement with the overlapping portions of the lap, and retaining'the overlapped portions of said laps.

6. The device as defined in claim 5 in combination with a shield covering said releasable means, secured to one of the laps.

7. A pack for parachutes wherein is comprised a stiflener, a canopy covering element consisting of two separate pieces that are sewed at one side to the bottom portion of the stifiener, each of said separate pieces having free sides and provided with laps which are folded over the edges of the stiffener at two of the free sides of the covering element, certain of said laps forming with a portion of the covering element permanent pockets for the stiffener at the comers adjacent to the edge along which the covering element is sewed to the stiffener and means-for securing releasably in a pocket form the laps positioned at each of the comers away from the hinged portion of the covering element.

8. A pack for parachutes comprising a stiffener, a pair of canopy covers sewed to the back of the stiffener at one side, each of said covers to be of less width than the edge of the stiffener at which they are sewed, and each equal in width with the side of the stiffener away from the side of the stiffener to which they are sewed and means for releasably holding the covers in position on the stiffener.

9. In a pack assembly composed of a cushion, stiffener canopy covering elements hinged to the cushion and provided with releasable fasteners securing the cushion to the stiffener canopy covering elements and releasable fastening devices positioned between, the cushion and the stiffener, canopy covering element comprising a pair of canopy covers, each hinged at one end to the same side of the stiffener, the hinged edge of each of said pair of covers extending part of the distance across the stiffener only and having laps on two of its free sides folding over the edge of the stiffener, one lap of each of said pair of covers extending entirely across the edge of the stiffener and registering with each other and with the other elements of the releasable fastening devices.

10. The device as defined in claim 9, wherein the laps extending entirely across the end of the stiffener away from the hinge are positioned to draw the free end of the covers taut, lengthwise of the laps between the releasable fasteners.

11. A parachute pack having a stiffener piece, comprising a pair of canopy covers each hinged at one of its sides'to the stiffener, each of said canopy covers having extending from a free side adjacent to the hinged side, a lap folded over under the stiffener, and, on an edge opposite the hinge, a lap folded over the edge of the stiffener opposite the hinge, and releasable fasteners, cooperating elements of which are attached to the stiffener adjacent to its corners and to the canopy covers, at points adjacent tor-corners thereof, and means whereby the releasable fasteners are released.

SAMUEL H. KNIGHT. 

